Mahathir, who is also Bersatu chairman said the presence of Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, and other party leaders at Bersatu’s third anniversary celebrations in Shah Alam last Thursday, was not a sign that they would be joining the party.

According to him, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders including Azmin were at the anniversary celebrations as they were invited by virtue of their party leadership positions.

“Several of them came but they have not expressed any desire to join Bersatu,“ said Mahathir, when met after The 2019 Putrajaya Boat Race here today.

“Azmin too did not hand in any application. If he did submit an application, we will consider,“ he said in commenting on speculations that Azmin might be joining Bersatu after he was seen attending the anniversary event.

On the National Consensus Charter signed by Umno and PAS yesterday, Mahathir who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, said he did not understand how the two parties could work together.

“I can’t understand how Umno can cooperate with PAS because Umno is kafir,“ he said referring to PAS’ earlier statement which had labelled Umno as a party of infidels.

Asked to comment on the leadership’s statement that the coalition was not about racial and religious sentiments, Mahathir said: “Its always about race and religion. (But) If you are there to stir up racial feelings, I think that is wrong.”

Yesterday, Umno and PAS signed a political cooperation memorandum charter known as the National Consensus Charter, at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in his speech at the rally urged all parties not to worry over the unity of the Malays following the PAS-Umno pact.

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Umno and PAS should not fall into narrow racial politics as this goes against Islamic nature which promotes moderation and respect for other religions. — Bernama